The US Coast Guard is often not the first branch one thinks of when considering joining the US Military.
With that said, they do play a vital role in our nation’s security.
Just like the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, the Coast Guard has height and weight standards that must be met by anyone thinking of joining.
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However, unlike the other branches, the Coast Guard actually does take several things into consideration when assessing the overall health of prospective members.
They include things like:
- Gender
- Body fat percentage
- Frame size
- Height
Coast Guard BMI Requirements
Rather than using a height and weight chart, the U.S. Coast Guard uses the CDC’s BMI chart to initially assess the fitness of potential recruits.
According to COMDTINST 1020.8I, the Body Composition Standards Program manual:
“The Coast Guard’s screening weight standards are based on body mass index (BMI), a weight that corresponds with an individual’s height. The
Coast Guard established the BMI standard of 19.0 (minimum) and 27.5 (maximum),
regardless of age or gender.”
Here’s a chart that quickly assesses whether a recruit is above or below those BMI standards.
| Height (inches) | Minimum Screening Weight (lbs.) | Maximum Screening Weight (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | 91 | 131 |
| 59 | 94 | 136 |
| 60 | 97 | 141 |
| 61 | 100 | 145 |
| 62 | 104 | 150 |
| 63 | 107 | 155 |
| 64 | 110 | 160 |
| 65 | 114 | 165 |
| 66 | 117 | 170 |
| 67 | 121 | 175 |
| 68 | 125 | 180 |
| 69 | 128 | 186 |
| 70 | 132 | 191 |
| 71 | 136 | 197 |
| 72 | 140 | 202 |
| 73 | 144 | 208 |
| 74 | 148 | 214 |
| 75 | 152 | 220 |
| 76 | 156 | 225 |
| 77 | 160 | 231 |
| 78 | 164 | 237 |
| 79 | 168 | 244 |
| 80 | 173 | 250 |
Prospective recruits will also be measured for their body composition, or body fat percentage.
Here are the body fat percentage requirements:
| Age | Percent Body Fat (Men) | Percent Body Fat (Women) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 30 years old | 22% | 32% |
| Less than 40 years old | 24% | 34% |
| Age 40 or greater | 26% | 36% |
All of these are based on the Coast Guard Body Composition Standards Prmanual, last updated in March 2022.
Related Articles
Related Article: Air Force Height And Weight Requirements
Related Article: Navy Height And Weight Standards
Related Article: Marine Corps Height And Weight Standards
Related Article: Army Height And Weight Standards
References
- Coast Guard Ranks and Pay for 2022 - March 20, 2022
- Coast Guard Grooming Standards - August 13, 2019
- Attending the Naval Academy Preparatory School - July 4, 2019
What is the minimum height requirement to attend the coast guard academy for a female?
I believe the minimum height for the Coast Guard academy is the same as the regular Coast Guard, so 58 inches (or 4 ft. 10 inches). This is for both men and women, by the way.